The meeting was called to brief the politicians on the latest developments regarding the relocation of Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Basarwa, represented by the First People of the Kalahari, claim that the relocation from their ancestral land was made to pave way for diamond mining. The BNF acting president, Dr. Kathleen Letshabo, described the president's Wednesday meeting as too brief.

"We were called by the President who has met us in the past. This time his brief meeting had a special emphasis on allegations that around November, Hollywood will release a new movie called 'The Blood Diamond' on the Sierra Leone situation," said Letshabo. She said Mogae's problem was that SI was trying to confuse the world that Botswana diamonds were 'blood diamonds' by claiming that the relocation of the Basarwa from the CKGR was done in bad faith to pave way for the development of a mining town. He (Mogae) also dismissed accusations of inhuman treatment that SI claims was meted on the Bushmen by the authorities.

Mogae stressed that the impact of the movie on the country's diamond industry could be very bad.

"His concern was that SI's campaign has the potential to send a wrong message to the world," said Letshabo. "He also indicated that the campaign could be detrimental to the diamond industry."

Letshabo further said that Mogae could not field comments and questions as he said they would be made at the end of a fact-finding mission in which the Botswana government is sponsoring leaders of the opposition. The opposition leaders are expected to return today.

At the end of the first leg of the tour, the Botswana government is expected to take another group on a fact-finding mission. The leader of MELS party, Themba Joina, said the Wednesday meeting was a brief one, mainly geared at updating politicians on the latest developments in the CKGR saga.

"I did not personally attend the meeting but a member of the MELS central committee attended on my behalf," explained Joina.

Mogae's meeting with opposition leaders follows reports that SI has placed a full-page advert in Variety magazine on behalf of the Kalahari Bushmen of Botswana, making a desperate appeal for help to Leonardo DiCaprio. Leonardo stars in the film 'The Blood Diamond' which is due in November. This appeal is meant to classify Botswana diamonds as 'conflict diamonds'. Mogae has promised to keep the politicians updated so that they could understand the matter.